The Tribune

By Earyel Bowleg

and Letre Sweeting

Tribune Staff Reporters

A MAN, believed to be a Dominican national, was shot dead on Friday morning as he got into his vehicle - one of two murders on Friday, with a third man yesterday dying from wounds suffered in an incident last Monday.

Police press liaison Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings said that shortly after 8am police were notified of a shooting at West Bay Street and Eton Avenue.

The victim is believed to live in the area and is in his mid-20s. 

“Police responded and information thus far suggests that the victim was entering his vehicle when a silver Juke that was parked adjacent to his vehicle, a male [exited] that vehicle and opened fire on the victim, hitting him multiple times,” said CSP Skippings.

“The victim in his quest to evade the suspect ran onto West Bay Street where he collapsed and succumbed as a result of the injuries received. I want to say that the due diligence of the officers and members of the public have assisted in us recovering that vehicle thus far. It was recovered on Munnings Drive.”

Two people were in the vehicle parked next to the victim’s car, with one getting out and opening fire. Officers appealed to members of the public who might have seen something, including the Juke, which was later found on Munnings Drive, to get in touch with the police. 

Asked if there was heightened concerns with the murder taking place near hotels, CSP Skippings said the police are doing their job and had a warning for culprits.

She said: “We’re always concerned where homicides happen - always concerned. Of course it is a touristic destination and in a touristic area and so there is some concerns for us, but again, as I mentioned earlier, we’re going to ensure that we beef up patrols in this particular area again to ensure this doesn’t happen. I also want to say to those persons who committed this heinous act this morning. We will get you and we will get to you in the shortest possible time.”

In the second incident on Friday, a 27-year-old man known to police is dead following a shooting incident in the Pinewood Gardens area.

Shortly before 9pm, police were alerted to gunshots being discharged in the Pinewood Gardens area, via police ShotSpotter technology, according to initial police reports.

A man known to police was “sitting outside a residence on Wild Guava Street, when a dark coloured Nissan March pulled up in the front of the home”, said police.

“It is reported that a male exited the vehicle, fired gunshots in the direction of the victim, which resulted in the victim being shot multiple times.”

The Wild Guava Street resident died of his injuries while being taken to hospital in a private vehicle.

In addition, police also reported that on Sunday, a man died after having been attacked and stabbed on Monday last week. 

Officers said that at about 2am on Monday, February 6, the victim was in the area of Zion Boulevard when he was attacked and stabbed by an unknown man. 

The victim was taken to hospital by EMS personal, but died at about 3am on Sunday. 

At the time of going to press, police reported another shooting of a man in the Gambier area. No further details were available. 

Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to contact CID at 502-9991/2 or Crime Stoppers at 328-(TIPS)-8477.

Asked on Friday about The Bahamas ranking eighth in the InSight Crime 2022 Homicide Round-up, with 32 murders per 100,000 people, CSP Skippings said: “I think we’re doing an excellent job. As a police department and as a community. Yes, we’re concerned about where we are in the rankings, but let’s talk about our success rate. The good job that the men and women of the criminal investigations department are doing in resolving these particular incidents.”